State will pursue clean energy regardless of Trump executive order, says Colorado governor

Colorado will continue to push ahead with renewable energy despite president Donald Trump’s order eliminating many restrictions on fossil fuels, governor John Hickenlooper has said. Hickenlooper announced during a news conference at the state Capitol yesterday that Colorado will continue to work towards eliminating air pollution – even though the Clean Power Plan is under challenge in the Supreme Court and faces suspension or rescission by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). However, Colorado is firmly on course to meet its emissions reduction goals under the Plan by 2030 – the deadline for states to cut their emissions by 30%. Even though the Plan may be eradicated in full, and several restrictions on fossil fuels were lifted under the order – including a moratorium on coal-fired plants – Colorado will continue to focus on its environmental goals, Hickenlooper said. "Clean air, clean water continues to be an important part of Colorado's brand," he said. Colorado became the first US state to enact a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) by ballot initiative in 2004. The state’s target is to procure 30% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030. In 2010, the state enacted a law requiring utilities to replace some coal-fired electrical generating plants with natural gas facilities. However, despite increasing its soalr capacity by 70% last year, Colorado’s solar ranking fell out of the top ten as other states increased their capacity even more aggressively this past year. Despite Trump’s new order, Colorado is just one of many states pursuing business as usual, and carrying on with its clean energy mandate. Industry stakeholders predicted on the back of the order that it would do little do derail existing progress in the sector. Hickenlooper said he doubted that Congress or Trump's administration would attempt to overturn state air pollution rules that are stricter than federal standards. "I'd be pretty shocked if they suddenly said, 'Sure, you're saving your air, it's too clean,'" he said. Hickenlooper joins the governors of California, New York, Washington and Oregon who openly criticised the executive order. “[The] Executive Order by the president pulling back on policies addressing climate change will not deter Colorado’s efforts. Natural gas has become more economical than coal, and Colorado is a national leader on wind and solar energy, which are a boon to our economy, jobs and the environment,” he said in a statement. “Our efforts to clean our air and protect the natural environment are part of what draws young people, families, and businesses to Colorado. Our outdoor recreation industry, which helps create jobs all across the state, is dependent upon cleaner air and water. We have a history of solving complex problems and taking action to move the state closer to meeting its clean air goals, and we have shown that we can have cleaner air and reduce harmful carbon emissions at essentially no additional cost ‒ potentially even saving money for Colorado families. “We will keep building a clean energy future that creates Colorado jobs, improves our health and addresses the harmful consequences of a changing climate.” Tags: us, usa, colorado, renewable portfolio standards, clean power plan, trump, donald trump, emissions, solar pv, renewable energy

More good news for solar as industry jobs in Colorado grew by 20 percent in 2016

Colorado is home to 6,004 solar jobs Despite adding 1,006 new solar jobs in 2016, Colorado’s 20 percent growth is still shy of the national average, which saw a 25 percent increase. Colorado is home to 6,004 solar jobs, clutching on to the lowest seat in the top 10 of states with the most solar jobs, according to a report out Tuesday by the Solar Foundation. Denver County holds the highest concentration of jobs locally, followed by Boulder and Jefferson counties. This is more good news for the industry. A U.S. Solar Market Insight report out in early March found that the state’s solar power capacity jumped 70 percent in 2016. The report Tuesday reiterated earlier findings by the National Solar Jobs Census, which was released in early February. Roughly half of those employed in Colorado’s solar industry are involved with installation, according to the report. The median wage for a solar worker is about $54,080 annual. A solar worker is anyone who spends more than 50 percent of his or her time on solar. Solar jobs across the country have increased by at least 20 percent per year for the past four years. The report speculated that the industry will grow by 10 percent in 2017, increasing to 286,335 workers from 260,077 workers. California leads the nation with 100,050 jobs, according to the report. Massachusetts and Texas come in at second and third with 14,582 and 9,296 jobs, respectively.

Rocky Mountain Region's Largest Solar Conference to Explore Industry Prospects for 2017

DENVER, March 7, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Solar Power Colorado 2017 will explore the theme: Innovation: Making Solar Mainstream through a program filled with more than 70 expert speakers from across the country. The conference begins March 13, 2017 and takes place at the Omni Interlocken Resort in Broomfield, Co Sponsored by the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association (COSEIA), the conference will help professionals navigate through the tricky times ahead. While solar energy just posted its most successful year ever, with an astounding 95% growth over 2015, the policy signals from Washington are causing concern. Kicking off the conference Monday evening March 13th are Patty Limerick of the Center of the American West, and Kevin Gertig, Executive Director of Fort Collins Utilities. Both are expected to outline the tremendous potential of solar energy in Colorado. After a Tuesday morning keynote by Dr. Martin Keller, director of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, solar industry leaders will explore the question "Where do we go from here?" in a panel moderated by Abby Hopper, new president of the national Solar Energy Industries Association. While the new administration is signaling a pullback from clean energy, state and local governments and utilities are leading the way towards greater adoption. Panels exploring state and local policies Tuesday afternoon will examine the trends – from the recent 100% renewable energy pledge by the City of Pueblo to United Power's ambitious solar builds. Additionally, a panel of experts will explore the growing trend of adding battery storage to solar projects and building microgrids, while another panel explores innovative financing methods. Wednesday morning, following a keynote by former Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, a panel of utility executives and analysts ranging from Xcel Energy to the mayor of Boulder will engage in a lively discussion on how to build innovative utilities of the future. In addition to panel discussions on a wide range of topics Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, Solar Power Colorado will also feature training sessions eligible for continuing education credits in the solar industry. And in a first, Solar Power Colorado will feature a Career Fair Wednesday afternoon where leading company representatives can visit with prospective job-seekers under the auspices of Solar Energy International's Solar Ready Colorado program. Additionally, a large expo hall will showcase the latest solar technologies and services from a range of leading companies. About COSEIA Established in 1989, Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association (COSEIA) is the award-winning nonprofit association leading Colorado's solar industry. Our mission is to expand solar markets and to generate jobs and prosperity for the people of Colorado. We work to advance solar policy, remove market barriers, highlight emerging trends, and promote solar outreach and education. COSEIA represents a wide range of solar-related businesses including solar installers, manufacturers, distributors, dealers, integrators, financiers, developers, utilities, entrepreneurs and educators. There are approximately 5,000 people working in the Colorado solar industries. Colorado has more than 800 MW of installed solar, ranking the state ninth nationally in installed solar capacity. Contact: Rebecca Cantwell Phone: (720) 209-6000 Email: rcantwell@coseia.org Conference Information and Registration: http://coseia.org/conference/